Penny Ante captures Hillsborough Handicap

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Penny Ante ($7) broke sharply, quickly took the lead and was never headed as she scored her second straight stakes victory, winning the $72,200 Hillsborough Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

The 4-year-old filly defeated odds-on Pickle by 1 1/4 lengths, winning the one-mile turf race in 1:37.77. Lucky Sabre ran third as the top three finishers repeated their placings in the Luther Burbank at Santa Rosa.

Penny Ante was able to set slow fractions of 24.38, 48.89 and 1:13.04.

She was able to get a one-length lead on the first turn and had plenty left when Show Me Your Glory pulled within a head of her at the quarter pole. She pulled away and was never seriously challenged by Pickle, who came from well off the pace.

"Frank (Alvarado) did just what I told him, to get out and get over," winning trainer William E. Morey said. "I said if they sent Show Me Your Glory to let her go, but they didn't. I didn't want to say anything, but when we had a length on the field on the first turn, I thought she would win. Obviously, the fractions were to our liking."

Since being claimed for $32,000 on May 29, Penny Ante ran second in an allowance race and won two stakes. She earned $43,750, lifting her career earnings to $217,262 with seven wins in 20 starts.